Thomas O'Neal Ginter

Thomas O'Neal Ginter, 74, of Midland, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, June 21, 2007, at the MidMichigan Medical Center from an apparent heart attack.

He was born on May 16, 1933 in Midland, son of the late Milton and Olive (Woodcock) Ginter. He graduated from Midland High School in 1951, moving on to The Dow Chemical Co. to establish a successful Dow career spanning 40 years. He began his career at Dow as an hourly technician in 1953. Through much hard work and dedication he worked his way up to research chemist positions, having made key contributions (including patents) in a number of areas. One of the areas he was most proud of was his work on Chlorostyrene. Toward the end of his 40-year career, he was the operations manager for Central Research. Tom retired from Dow in 1993. His first marriage was to Joyce Hendricksen on July 3, 1954. The second was to Sally (Pettengill) Cornier on Sept. 1, 1973 in Edenville and lasting to present.

Tom had all of the qualities everyone wishes for. He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to make everyone laugh with his jokes and limericks. He was quick to laugh and ever ready to lend a helping hand and was totally devoted to helping his family and friends. His hobbies included various forms of carpentry, agate hunting and lapidary work on those treasures. He loved Grand Marais and especially enjoyed picking agates along the shores of Lake Superior. His pride and joy was the 1931 Model A sport coupe that he and his son Mike had restored to its original beauty. Tom's idea of the perfect day was a get-together with all of his children and grandchildren and eating his delicious baked beans and sheet cake, which will be missed by all. To his great satisfaction and perhaps due to an unlisted ingredient or two (though he would never admit to that)no one can make them taste like he did.

Tom was welcomed home by his parents, Milton and Olive and by his brother Dean Ginter. If gentleness of spirit, kindness of heart and good will to others determines our fate, Tom now shares a spectacular mansion with those gone before him, but he will be sadly missed by all those he left behind.

Tom is survived by his wife Sally, children, Cindy (Rick) Ullery, Mike (Peggy) Ginter, Mark (Alison) Ginter, and Nicole Cornier Ryan, all of Midland; grandchildren, Heather (Todd) Blasdell, George Ullery, Michael and Richard Miller, Cherie, Brittany and Bryce Delaney, Max Ryan, and namesake, Thomas Ginter, all of Midland; great grandchildren, Brendan and Mikayla Blasdell of Midland; sisters, Arden Geotz and Karen Murphy of Scottsdale, AZ.

Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Monday, June 25, 2007, from the Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Home, 1200 W. Wheeler St. Chaplain W. Roger Stauffer will officiate with burial in Midland Cemetery. Tom's family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. and on Monday from 10 a.m. until time of service. Tom and his wife Sally were very active with the Tall in the Saddle organization, a therapeutic horse riding program for handicapped children.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Midland County 4-H Exceptional Riders, c/o Connie Anders, Treasurer, 3615 Fuller Drive, Midland, MI 48642.

If you cannot visit with the family in person, please send your condolences through www.waresmithwoolever.com.